Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Aggression Management Advanced

Pig aggression including fighting at mixing and chronic dominance hierarchies causes significant welfare harm; management strategies can substantially reduce impact.

Key Facts

Mixing unfamiliar pigs causes intense fighting until hierarchies are established
Post-mixing aggression can result in serious wounds, psychological stress, and reduced growth
Stable group housing with minimal mixing reduces chronic aggression significantly
Providing adequate space, multiple feeding points, and hiding places reduces fighting severity
Olfactory interventions including masking sprays have limited evidence but are widely used

Welfare Considerations

Pig aggression is a predictable consequence of management systems that impose frequent mixing; designing systems that avoid unnecessary mixing is more effective than reactive management.

What You Can Do

Support pig welfare standards that minimise unnecessary mixing
Advocate for stable group housing as the norm in pig production systems
Choose pork products from producers with documented aggression management protocols